The winter chill that beset Kingfisher, the owner of B&Q, has spread to
investors after the company froze its final dividend payment.

Sales of Wellington boots surged by a quarter last year while flood pumps,
grit and salt all grew as the weather soured. Interior paint sales grew 9
per cent with “Light Rain” proving a particularly popular colour during the
wet weather with sales up 48 per cent. “That seems slightly ironic”, said
chief executive Ian Cheshire.

However, that was not enough to offset the profits usually generated by summer
weather items sich as garden products and greenhouses. The